Windshield cleaner



g R. G. AREY WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed May 28, 1923 fzyajaor: 79237972 GQHTery Patented Aug. 16, 19.27.

UNITED STATES y 1,638,976 PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH G'. AREY, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR `TO WORCESTER BILT- RITE COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION -OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

Appucauon mea nay 2s, 192s. serial No. 641,960.

My invention relates to an Vimproved cleaning device for use 1n connectlon wlth a windshield, so that rain, snow, or other simllar matter can be wiped from the face of 'the windshield and a clear spacev thus be provided, through which the driver of an automobile, or other vehicle, can readily see. The object of my invention is to provide an improved device .of the above indicated character, that shall be simple vand inexpensive in construction, and extremely effective in operation.

Windshield cleaners have been heretofore constructed, in which a wiping movement is imparted to the cleaning element, by the continuously rotating shaft of an electric motor, and while such prior cleaning devices are effective in operation, as regards their ability to clear the windshield, et such prior devices have been complicate and expensive in construction. Furthermore, the electric motors employed in such cleaners must be of such.reduced size as to render the cleaners impracticable from a manufacturing standpoint. Accordingv to my present invention, I propose to provide an improved windshield cleaner inwhich the wiping element is operated by an electro-magnetic dcvice having all the capabilities of` a small electric motor, without the complication and high cost of the latter. The above and other advantageous features of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which v Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of a windshield, showing my improved cleaner mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of my improved cleaner, with the front cover removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectional view a'long the line 2 2 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fi 4 is a vertical sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direc- Y tion of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fi 6 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.A

Fig. 7 is an end view of the cleanerfahown` in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is'an enlarged view, showing the reduction gearing removed from the casing.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 7, my device generally consists of a rectangular casing 1 having a cover 2, which is provided with a boss 3 extending through an opening '4 provided in .the frame 5 of the windshield. The boss 3 .1s threaded, and a nut 6, coacting therewith,A s'erves to -clamp the cleaner to the windshield frame 5. The boss is further provided with anopening 7, see Fig. 3, eX- tending therethrough, in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 8 carrying at its end a Wiping element 9 of an suitable construction. The shaft 8 extends lnto the casing 1 and is adapted to have an oscillatory movement imparted thereto by means of my improved electro-magnetic motor, which will now be described.

Referring no w to Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, a solenoid 10l is mounted within the casing 1 and one terminal thereof is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, such as a battery 11. The other terminal of the solenoid`10 is connected to a brush 12 which extends into the path of movement of an armature 13, mounted on a rotatable shaft 14. The armature 13 is in electrical connection with its shaft 14 and the latter is in electrical connection with the casing 1 `which is grounded, as indicated at 15. The brush 12 is insulated from the casing 1 b any suitable means, such as a block 16 oinsulating material, and as the battery 11 is grounded at 17 it is obvious that when the armature 13 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, an electrical circuit will be completed through the battery 11, the solenoid 10, the brush 12, the armature 13 and the casing 1, back through the ground to the battery 11.

When the solenoid is so energized, it is obvious that the armature 13 will be attracted' bythe core 18 of the solenoid 10, whereby a turning force is exertedl on the shaft 14 in the direction of the arrow. The malgnetic circuit is then as shown in'arrows in ig. 3, and includes the armature 13, the core 18, and that portion of the casin 1 between the core 18 and a boss 19 projecting from the casing 1, through which the shaft 14 passes. The shaft 1 4 extends through the boss 19 beyond the casing 1,and is 'provided at its end with a knob 20 of insulating material,

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whereby the shaft 14 may be readily turned by hand' to set the device in operation, as will be hereinafter described.

As best shown inFigs. 3, 5 and 8, the end of the shaft 14, beyondl the armature 13, is provided with a pinion 21 which is in mesh with a gear 22 mounted on a shaft 23 rotatable within a ,sleeve 24, carried by the casing 1. The shaft 23. is also provided with a pinion25 turnable with the gear 2,2, which pinion 25 is in mesh with a gear 26. The gear 26 is mounted on an arm 27 which is provided at one end with an opening 28, within which is loosely received the projecting end of the shaft 23. The arm 27 is thus free to turn on the shaft 23, and the gear 26 being secured thereto, is free to revolve about the axis of the shaft 23 without being capable of rotation on its own axis. Consequently, when the shaft 23 is rotated, by its connection to the armature shaft 14, the arm 27, together with the gear 26 is adapted to revolve about the shaft 23 the number of revolutions which the shaft 23 -A must make to cause one complete revolution of the arm and gear being determined by the ratio between the number of teeth on the gear 26 and the pinion 25 respectively.

For purpose of illustration this ratio is shown as being about two to one from which it is apparent that a very great 'speed reduction is obt-ained in converting the rotation of the armature shaft 14 into revolution of the gear 26.

As previously stated the shaft 8 which carries the 'element 9 extends into the casin 1, and as best shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a crank ortion 29 which is connected to the arm 2i?l by means of a link 30 and a' pin 3l carried by the arm 27. From an inspection of Fig. 2,l it is obvious that revolution of the arm 27 about the shaft 23 is adapted vto impart an oscillatory movement to the shaft 8, whereby the cleaning element 9 will be moved back and forth over the surface'of the windshield, as long as the shaft 14 is rotated.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown an arrangement whereby the armature shaft 14 may be locked in such a position that the armature 13 will be maintained out of contact with t-he brush 12 when the device is notl in use. The boss 19 is provided with a pair` of alined radial slots 32, and the shaft 14 is provided with a -pin 33 extending transversely therethrough, which is adapted to be received in theslots 32. The angular relation between the pin 33 and the armature 13 is such that when the pin 33 is received in the slots 32, the armature will be held in the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 6, in which position the armature 13 is 'clear ofthe brush 12, and the solenoid 10 is not energized. The boss 19 is further provided with a radial opening 34, within which is received a ball 35 and a spring 36 for pressing the ball 35 into engagement with a peripheral groove 37aL provided on the shaft 14. The ball 35 serves to yieldingly maintain the pin 33 in engagement with the slots 32.

In order to start the cleaner in operation, it is only necessary to take hold of the knob 20 and move the shaft 14 longitudinally enough to clear the pin 33 from the slots whereupon the ball 35 enters a second groove 37h. At the same time, the operator gives the knob a quick turn, thereby imparting rotation to the shaft 14. lVhen the shaft 14 is so turned, the armature 13 engages the brush 12, thereby energizing the solenoid 10, and when this occurs, the armature is attracted to the core 18, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. This attraction causes a torque to be exerted on the shaft 14, which added to the torque already.ex'

erted on the shaft 14 by the actionof turning the knob 20, causes the shaft 14 to be turned through half a revolution, so that the varmature 13 is again attracted by the energization of the solenoid 10. In other words, a turning force is applied to the shaft 14 by the attraction of the armature 13 for every half revolution thereof, so that the shaft 14 is rotated continuously and thereby operates the cleaning element 9. I have found that a very slight turning force need be applied to the knob 20 to set the device in operation, the shaft 14 quickly coming up to speed which is then maintained substantially constant. Obviously the speed of rotation of the shaft 14 will be determined by the proportions of the magnetic circuit and the strength of the solenoid, and I have found that the current applied by the ordinary starting and lighting battery of an automobile is quite sufficient to develop the torque necessary to rotate the shaft 14 and 'thereby drive the cleaning element 9.

When it is desired to stop the cleaner, it is only necessary to take hold of the knob 2Q and push the shaft 14 inwardly until the pin 33 is again engaged in the slots 32, in which position it is maintained by the spring pressedball 35. Obviously, when the shaft 14 is locked in this position, the flow of current through the solenoid 10 is automatically interrupted by the fact that the armature 13 cannot come into contact with the brush 12, thereby eliminating the necessity for using a separate switch for controlling the operation of the cleaner.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by my invention I have provided an improved windshield cleaner which is extremely effective in operation, and is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, as compared with prior devices. All prior electric motor driven windshield cleaners, with which I am familiar, are open to the objection that'the i motors which drive them are almost diminuwithin said casing, a rotatable armatureadapted to be actuated by said magnet 'for' `operating said shaft, means crrntrolled by the position of said armature fo energizin said magnet and means for holding sar armature in a nonenergizingposition.

2. In a 4machine of the class described, the combination with a source of electrical energy, a casing-of Ymagnetic material, a shaft rotatably supported thereby and a magnet located within said casing, of'a rotatable' armature for voperating said shaft y and adapted by its position to control the connection of said magnet to said source, and means put into operation by endwise movement of said shaft for holding said armature in a position disconnecting said magnet from said source.

3. In a device of the class described, an electro-magnet, a rotatable bare armature adapted to be actuated by said magnet, said armature havin a pair of polar extremities, and a brush a apted to Contact with said polar extremities to energize said magnet,

whereby said magnet will be alternately energized and deenergized.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a source-of electrical energy, a hollow metallic casing, a magnet' located within said casing, a shaft rotatably supported within the casing with its axis at right an les to the axis of the magnet, the

sald sha carrying an armature adapted to be attracted by the said magnet for turning y the shaft, of means controlled by the angular position of the shaft for energizing said magnet, and means put in operation by relative movement between said shaft and said casing for locking said shaft and .armature in a position in which said magnet is disconnected from said source.

5. In a device of the class described, an

electro-magnet, a shaft, a rotatable bare' armature adapted to be actuated by said magnet mounted on said shaft, Said armature having polar surfaces concentric to the axis of said shaft, a brush to energize said magnet by contact with said surfaces, and means for holding said surfaces out of contact with said brush, said means comprising a pinon said shaft cooperating with a stationary slot.

6. In a device of the class described, an electro-magnet, a shaft, a rotatable bare 'armature adapted to be actuated by said magnet lmounted on said shaft, a brush to energize .said magnet by contact with polar extremities of said armature, a pin on said shaft, and a stationary slot to receive said p in and hold said shaft and armature stationary.

7. In a .motor for windshield cleaners, a

casing in the form of .a rectangular paral-4 lelepiped with greatest dimension horizontal, an electromagnet located at one end of said casing with magnetic axis horizontal, a bipolar armature mounted on a' horizontal shaft vsupported by sides of said casing, and a brush 'for intermittently energizing said magnet by contact with a conducting member carried by said shaft. v

RALPH G. AREY. 

